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Economic Reform
Louis XV pursued pleasure before business and ran up more debts. The wealthy and powerful classes demanded, however that the king summon the Estates-General. -
Louis XVI calls the Estates-General
The delegates were deadlocked oved the issue of voting. Claiming to represent the people of France, they declared themselves to be the National Assembly. A few days later the National Assembly found its meeting hall locked and guarded. Fearing that the king would dismiss them, they moved indoors to a tennis court. The delegates took their famous Tennis Court Oath. -
Parisians storm the Bastille
More than 800 Parisians assembled outside the Bastille. The crowd demanded weapons and gunpowder.The commander of the Bastille refused to open the door and opened fire at the crowd. The crow broke through the defense and killed the commander and released a handful of prisoners. -
National Assembly Acts
Under the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, bishops and priests became elected, salaried officials. The Civil Constitution ended papal authority over the French Church and dissolved convents and monasteries. -
Threats from abroad
The king of Prussia and the emperor of Austria issued the Declaration of Pilnitz.In this document the two monarchs threatened to intervene to protect the French monarchy. The French prepared for war. -
Civil War
The war of words between French revolutionaries and European monarchs moved onto the battlefield. The Legislative Assembly declared war on Austria,Prussia, Britain, and other states. -
Monarchy is Abolished
A crowd of Parisians stormed the royal palace of the Tuileries and killed the king's guards. A month later, citizens attacked prisoners that held nobles and priests accused of political offenses. -
The Spread of Nationalism
Revolution and war gave the French a sense of national identity. As monarchs centralized power, loyalty shifted to the king or queen. The French people attended civic festivals that celebrated the nation and the revolution. -
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Robespierre and the Reign of Terror
Revolutionary courts held hasty trials. Spectators cried "Hail the Republic. and "Death to the traitors." People that were killed were people who resisted the revolution. About 300,000 people were arrested. -
Third Stage of the Revolution
In the election supporters of a onstitutional monarchy won the majority of seats in the legislature. Politicians turned to Napoleon Bonaparte, they planned to use him to advance their own goals. Napoleon would outwit them and become ruler of France.